After the Cleveland Browns pull out an emotional win over Mayfield and the Panthers, it’s time to completely turn the page.
Sunday was as emotional a win as I’ve ever experienced as a fan. Not only did the Cleveland Browns get their first opening day win since 2004, but they also took down their former quarterback Baker Mayfield who had his eyes set on payback.
At this point, just be happy with the win. The Browns dominated 90 percent of the game, but a few big busts on defense and erred throws allowed Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers to keep it close and even take the lead at the end.
I try not to get too excited about kickers, but it feels like this kid Cade York is for real. Finishing four for four on the day including the game-winning kick from 58-yards out.
It’s been an awkward offseason with the trade of Mayfield, the suspension of Deshaun Watson, and this matchup looming in week one. Now that we are past all of that, there are three major takeaways that all Cleveland fans should leave with.
3 things Browns can accept after Week 1
No. 3: The offense isn’t the same
Trust me, I wanted this game today more than anyone. I don’t dislike Mayfield or think he’s an awful person/quarterback, but I didn’t want him to get the last word either. The most frustrating thing on Sunday would have been the Panthers winning and everyone second-guessing what the Browns did this offseason.
Jacoby Brissett is not Watson. Comparing this team in Week 1 to what it will be in Week 13 with Watson is like comparing apples to oranges. Brissett did exactly what he needed to do to get the victory, but had he even made two long-distance throws this game could have been over at halftime.
This team only needs to win five or six games to have a shot at the playoffs while Watson is suspended. With the Steelers upsetting the Bengals and the Browns getting a last-second victory, the plan is still intact.
No. 2: The Deshaun Watson contract isn’t that bad
You won’t hear an argument from me that the Cleveland Browns bought Watson. The five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract is what broke the tie over the Atlanta Falcons who seemed to be in the driver’s seat the entire time. The Browns have a very good roster (better than the Falcons), but the money is why he is here.
You’ve already seen the backlash in the league start with Lamar Jackson holding out saying he wants a deal like Watson. Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray have inked deals with a similar type of money, but are not fully guaranteed.
While it’s a tough strategy to be the leader when it comes to setting the market for a position, it was eventually going to happen. I know there is a lot of noise that what the Browns did was “irresponsible”, but I would argue continuing to bring in pieces without a franchise quarterback was more irresponsible than the contract they gave Watson.
Andrew Berry has shown time and time again that he is a master at handling the cap. Even with the current Watson hit in 2023, the Browns have plenty of cap space to work with, and that is before multiple restructures that will occur to help create even more room.
I’m not saying Mayfield isn’t a solid starting NFL quarterback, but Sunday is a prime example of what you’ll get with him. 50 percent of snaps that have your head shaking, and 50 percent of snaps where he looks great. The consistency wasn’t there to take this team to a Super Bowl.
No. 1: Letting Baker Mayfield go was the right decision
Believe me, this isn’t an “I told you so moment”. I wasn’t brave enough to post this take before the Week 1 matchup, and luckily, I was smart enough to wait until the clock hit zero on the clock Sunday before writing. But the good news is, letting go of Mayfield was absolutely the right call for the Cleveland Browns.
Not only did they upgrade with Watson, but they also avoided a very uncomfortable contract situation this season. Unless Mayfield would have been fantastic (which seems like a stretch after Week 1), the Browns would have been in a situation of negotiating a contract with a guy they didn’t believe in.
Additionally, he’s just good enough that they wouldn’t have had a good enough draft pick in 2023 to go after one. So, do you really want to go into an offseason having to be the highest bidder in free agency for a quarterback? Let’s not forget, good starting quarterbacks don’t often hit free agency either. It usually becomes a bidding war for guys who are excellent backups but deserve a shot at starting.
Mayfield did wonders for Cleveland. He broke them from the losing streak, put them on the map as far as media, led them to the playoffs, and even won a playoff game on the road. Just because it was right to move on, doesn’t mean we should be thankful.
I was thrilled to stick it to Mayfield today and it would have ruined my week if the Brownies wouldn’t have pulled it out, but it’s okay to root for Mayfield the rest of the year now. Just don’t bring up a poor take that Cleveland did him wrong or shouldn’t have moved on from him.